Printing device



Jan. 6, 19.25.

M.J. HOFFMAN PRINTING lDEVICE ,Filed Nov. v 9, l192s ,3 sheets-sheet l1 @lg/60 27 n Jan, 6,v 19,25. 1,521,772

, y M. J. HOFFMAN -PRINTING DEVICEV Filed Nov. 9, 11923 v 3. sheetsfsheet 2" Jan. 6, 1925- 1,521,772

M. J. HOFFMAN PRINTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1923 3 SheeS-Sheet 3 forming the functions above set forth. With" Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

MORRIS J'. HOFFMAN, 01E"CIIEIIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

ramrrne DEVICE.

Application `filed November 9, 1923 Serial No. 673,641. i.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, MORRIS J. HOFFMAN,

a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, havev invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Printing Devices, of which the fol,- lowing is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description. j Y

This invention relates to printing devices,

and its primary object is .to provide a printing device with a storage space 'for containing type carriers in which type slugs are" set up toprintY given data, and an exposed area or space,`into which the `type carriers may be moved and placed in printing position. In its present form, the device has been designed for'use in printing identication characters and directions or memoranda upon cards, sheets, a continuousstripor the like, but it is not intended to limitits use to this particular purpose. One of the objects is to provide a series of type carriers (in which the type slugs are setup to form words or sentences) and one or `more groups of type wheels containing type characters, such as numbers` and letters, together with convenient means for moving the type carriers into printing position, and adjustingy the type wheels, whereby an identification number and any selected information kof data, contained on the type slugs stored 'in the device, may beprinted upon a card,

sheet, Strip or the like. `.Another object vis to provide an extremely simple, eflicient and practical printing device, capable of perthese and other objects and advantages in view this invention conslsts 1n the several novel features hereinafter fully -setforth and claimed. The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a plan, partly broken away, of a printing device yembodying one form-ofthe present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical,vlong1tudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.y 1; Fig; 3 is a perspective view of a type carrier with type set therein and a fragment of an 'associated carrier guideway; Fig; 4 is a'detail',"vertica`l cross-` "section taken on the line of Fig. 2;

and Fig. 5 is a detail, vertical cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.2.

Referring t-othe said drawings, the reference character 10 designates a base, which as a preference, isof rectangular `form Vand stands uponlegs 11. The base is in the form of an open rectangular `frame and its vtop is flat end horizontal, andthe ends and sides thereof are covered by plates 12, 13,l

and 14, rwhich are secured to the base by screws or otherwise as desired. An open or exposed area or space 15 isleftv between the coverjplates'12, 13, 14, andin this open area or space, the printingcard, sheet, strip or the like is 4 accomplished. At the sides of this fopenfspace, under the cover plates 18, are storage places in which are stored alarge number of type carriers 16, in which" type slugs 40 are set up to print any data or information. desired. In the openspace j 15, at` oney or both ends thereof is one or j. more groups of type wheels 17, 18, which are provided upon their peripheries, such as the numbers O'to 9 and letters `of the alphabet, and' at the front of-l the device j are fi whereby the'latter may be adjusted tobring any` desired type characters thereofA into printing'y position, Abovethe open or. eX- posed lspace 15, is a .platen or impression making plate 2O which is rigidly secured to ngerpieces 19, -operativelyconnected to the type wheels` and furnishingmeans brackets 201, supported by'av shaft 21 that is mounted in depressiblefarmsl 22 y.fulcrumeol at 23 uponlears `24. A handle v25, connected to one ofthe arms 22, isprovided for. de'- v pressing the impression plate, and`coiled impression springs 26 are interposed between' the base and arms 22 and act .to lraise the arms 22 and therewith the impression plate. fFo'r the purposeof giving a parallel move-V mentto the impression plate, I have provided parallel movement bars 27, fulcrumed to the base below the fulcrums 23 of the pivotally connected, lbelow ythe`sha'.ft'21, to arms 29, which are rigidly yattached V tothe shaft.` Obviously, any equivalent means may be employed forF giving a parallel movement 'to the impression making plate upon thek typey to make kimpressi-ons without blurring them; `An `impressionpad `30 is secured in thev lower face of the plate 20,' Iand yan inkl ribbon 31 extends across the top of the exposed area 15, and isfwound arms 22, as at 28, and said bars 27 are so that `it may be brought down squarely,1v

4upon rollers 32 which are vjournaled in., the,k side 'frame members of the base and have heads ory knobs 33 on their outer ends, .by

crosswise of the device and rest upon longitudinally frame members 36 that are secured `to the base. Through the end portions v ofthe bars 34, extend rods 38 which tie the bars to brackets '37, that are vscrewed or otherwise securely' fastened to the side frame membersof the base.

The type carriers 16 may be in the form of elongated box-likestructures, for receiving the type slugs 40, and said type carriers and guide Ways have co-operating means for preventing the type carriers fromv tilting therein. In the form shown, each type carrier is provided with a substantially T shaped lugy 41 on the lower side, vvhichy ltravels in a slot 42 `in the bottom Wall ofy the guide way which ,is formed by the inverte'd U, bar. 35. vThe type slugs are locked y in the type carrier, as for instance by means of a threaded rod 43 which extendsthrough the f' end Walls of the type carrier and through holes or slots in the typeslugs'.' `vA nut 44 threaded upon one end'of therod 43 vand a shoulder on the other end of therod, securethe parts together. The shouldered end of the rod 43 is bent upward to `provide a finger piece 45 bywhich the type vcarrier is shifted from one positionV to another, and slots 46 are provided in the cover v plates 13, through which `said finger pieces chine for printing iiilentificationnumbers,l

extend into position to be conveniently taken hold-.of in manipulating the type ycarriers. When not 'in use, the type carriers occupy positionsy under the cover plates, and they are moved into the exposed or open space lywhen they are to be usedfor printing upon the sheets. The ends 'of the slots 46 furnish means for limit-ing endvvise movement of the typecarriers, and the inner ends serve to locate the carriers in their printing position. Printed slips are placed in the spaces between the slots 46, upon ,which are printed the data or other information.l

contained on the type slugs set in the adjacent type carriers. hooks 50v are struckup from the carrier plates adjacent to the ends of the slots 46, and serve to hold the printed slips in place.

The .several groups of type Wheels may be provided at'one or both ends of the maand characters at both ends of the card or sheet. Each type Wheel is provided with a pinion or toothed member 51 at the side i esima thereof, which pinion spaces the type wheels of eachy group apart.l The type Wheels at each end of the machine, are mounted to rotate upon the shafts 52 and 53 which are secured on the frame bars 36, and the groups of Wheels are spaced apart by sleeves {i4-which surround the shafts. Each type Wheel is manipulated from an associated finger pieceA 19 at the front lof the machine and as shown, this finger piece extends up from a vrackbar' which has rack teeth 56,757 that mes'hwithl the pinions or tooth members 51 of the type Wheels. The rack bars 55 are s lidably guided in cross bars 58 which, are secured to the frame bars 36. Theingers 1`9 project up through slots 59 in the cover kplate 12, and indicating dials containing characters, corresponding to the ...characters on the f type wheels, v are 4 placed adjacent to thev slotsto indicate the stopping places for `the finger pieces.k The characters adjacent the r`slots vare so placed With reference to the characters on the type wheels,. that the user may bring any desired typef character of any type Wheel intov printing position by moving the proper finger piece to the selected character on the dial. v r

ln case it is desired toprint upon a continuous strip of paper, Aa roll of paper 60 is provided which is mounted upon al rod 61, ,supported in .ears 62 on the frame. The strip isv drawn over the open or exposed space 15, andfinsertedunderneath a tearing strip 63 on the cover plate 12.

In use, the several carriers are set up with type for printing directions, data or any information required in connection with Work done in a factory, plant, .or other establishment. 1n' order to remove the type carriersfrom the device, the top or cover plates 13 are first removed from the frame. After ythe type carriers have been set with type, the type are locked in the type carriersby the lock device, the carriers are placed in the guide Ways and the cover plates secured upon the base. The type carriers which are not used in connection with the printing of any sheet. or sheets remain vstored underneath the cover plates and only er identilication number by movingthe fin- In the form shown,

ger pieces-19. If the printing is to be done upon cards, one, at the time1s inserted underneath the impression devicev and the latter is brought down upon the card, thereby forcing it against the interposed ink ribbon.` The card receives an impression from the type characters that are contained in they open or exposed area of the device. If a continuous strip is to be used, the end portion thereof is drawn across the open or exposed area and an impression made upon it, after which it may be pulled underneath the tearing strip 63 and that part which has been printed upon may be torn away from the remainder.

It is obvious that by providing storing space in the device for a large number of set type, set to print desired information, the ones needed for,` printing any desired information may be instantly moved into printing position and the others may remain stored away for future use. The device is extremely simple and can be operated by unskilled persons. It saves time and labor and enables unskilled persons to print various data, information or directions quickly and dispense with the use of handwritten or typewritten work.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A printing device comprising a base, having an exposed area for receiving and retaining in printing position, a plurality of type carriers containing set type slugs, said base having also storage spaces for receiving said type carriers, in combination with type carriers, having type slugs set up therein, said type carrlers being contained in said storage spaces and movable into said exposed area, in printing position therein, and an impression device arranged to be brought down upon the type slugs located in printing position.

2. A printing device comprising in combination, a base having a series of transversely extending guideways secured therein, type carriers containing set slugs and slidably mounted in said guideways, said type carriers being movable from an inoperative position to an operative, printing position in said guideways, and an impression device arranged to be brought down upon the type slugs that are in printing position.

3. A printing device comprising in a combination, a base having a series of transversely extending guideways secured therein, type carriers containing set type slugs and slidably mounted in said guideways, said type carriers being movable from an inoperative position to an operative, printing finger pieces extending out through slots in` the cover plates and being movable into an operative, 'printing position betweenV said cover plates,and an impression platecyarranged to be brought down upon the type slugs that are in printing position.

5. A printing' device comprising in combination,'a base having a series oftransversely i extending, slotted guideways secured therein, slotted cover plates covering theend portions of said guideways, type carrierscontaining set type slugs and slidably mounted in said guideways and having headed lugs extending through the slots of the guideways, said type carriers also having linger pieces extending up through the slots in the cover plates, and an impression making device arranged to be brought down upon the type that yare in printing position.

6. A printing device comprising in combination, a base having an exposed area, slidable independently movable type carriers set with type slugs and independently lmovable into said exposed area, a group of,

type Wheels in said exposed area, and individual means for setting the individual type Wheels of the group.

7. A printing-device co-mprising in com'- bination, a base having an exposed area, slidable type carriers containing set printing characters and movable into said exposed area, groups of type Wheels in said exposed area, mounted on a supporting shaft, and each having a pinion at its side, and rack bars slidably mounted in said base and extending to the front thereof, said rack bars having rack teeth meshing with said pinions, and having finger places by which they are manipulated.

8. A printing' device comprising in combination, a base having an exposed area and storage spaces at the sides thereof, slidable type carriers in said storage spaces movable into said exposed area, groups of type wheels at both ends of said exposed area, and means for setting the type wheels of each group.

MORRIS J. HOFFMAN. 

